TBF Announces 2010 Youth Grant Award Winners

Earlier this year at the NGJWC in Pittsburgh PA, The Bass Federation announced a new youth grant program designed to spur the growth of junior bass clubs across the country.

Each state had an opportunity to submit an application for the $1500 award that is designed to help the winners increase the awareness of the TBF Junior Angler Program in their state.

There are two of these grants available, and for 2010, the winning states are Ohio and Virginia.

“Each of these respective states laid out a very good plan of how they intend to use the funds and really try to motivate not only the young anglers in their state, but the adults who have not gotten involved with the youth program yet,” cited TBF National Youth Director Mark Gintert.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the youth directors and presidents in both Ohio and Virginia to implement their plans and really get the word out about what we have to offer,” added Gintert.

“This is an attempt to put funding directly into the hands of those who need it the most and see what kind of progress they can make within their states,” added TBF Vice President Mike Dunkerley. “This is the first time that we have ever done a grant of this nature with the specific goal of growing our numbers. If these states are successful this may be a good model for us to build on in the future.”

The funds provided by this grant are intended for the purpose of printing literature and providing travel assistance for TBF personnel within that state while they are promoting the youth program at specific events. There is also a performance feature within the grant that rewards the state for adding new youth members through these efforts.

Congratulations to both Ohio and Virginia and stay tuned throughout the year as we track their results.

The Bass University!

The first event kicking off in Mike Iaconelli’s hometown of Runnemede, NJ on Dec 5th and 6th, 2009, will have professional anglers, Dave Wolak, Gerald Swindle, Dave Mansue, Greg Hackney, Mike Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek! Subsequent events to follow in January and February of 2010. Details of this kickoff event as well as all subsequent events can be found on www.thebassuniversity.com

Bass University registration costs per person vary from $225 to $160, with special discounts for groups of 5 or more and discounts for members of TBF!

Dallas, Texas

Dates: February 6 and 7, 2010

Speakers: Ish Monroe, Byron Velvick., Michael Iaconelli, Pete Gluszek Additional Speakers to be confirmed

Nashville, Tenn.

Dates: January 23 and January 24, 2010

Speakers: Dave Wolak, Gerald Swindle, John Crews, Randy Howell, Michael Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek

Sacramento, Calif.

Dates: January 9, 10, 2010

Speakers: Ish Monroe, Michael Bennet, Brent Ehrler, Gary Dobbins, Michael Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek

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BASS UNIVERSITY, the institution that creates advanced anglers, is the launch program created and hosted by professional anglers, Pete Gluszek (FLW) and Mike Iaconelli (BASS).

Mission: DEVELOPED for serious bass fishing enthusiasts as a tool to take anglers to the next level. Unlike any other bass fishing seminar, students will learn proven tactics and techniques from the world’s best anglers and gain access to the most cutting edge techniques, tackle, and equipment.

Products: A TWO-DAY INTENSIVE PROGRAM, taught by six of today’s top pro anglers in an easy-to-learn classroom style environment, kicked off by your hosts, Pete Gluszek and Mike Iaconelli. In addition to this exclusive, personal, and customized training, students will receive a one-year subscription to BASSIN’MAGAZINE ®, Course Literature, tackle gift pack and official BU alumni T-shirt.

Bass University, unlimited potential, unlimited success.

Be part of the Institution for Advanced Anglers

Around the TBF Youth Newsletter – October 2009

As you have no doubt recognized these are tough times for the entire recreational industry and fishing is no exception!
 
With many of the major players in our sport experiencing significant cutbacks we (The TBF Youth Program) cannot sit back and wait for some magic funding to appear to keep our programs growing.Now is the time to take action and learn to control our own destiny!
 
And we have just the program to do it.
 
Our new TBF Eyewear program is coming your way and the sky’s the limit when it comes to your potential to earn money for your junior clubs. If you didn’t see the press release last week this is probably the best potential source of funding that we have ever put together and the best part is we aren’t dependent on a sponsor to provide anything for us!
 
Here is how it works.
 
Every Junior Club in the country has the ability to sell an outdoor line of eyewear that was created by one of our own anglers, Gary Nesty of the Indiana Bass Federation. There are three lines of glasses to sell, the first is a line of ANSI approved shooting glasses that can also be used by anyone who is required to wear safety glasses to work or use them on the construction site or the farm. They come with both an amber lens and a gray lens and everything is contained in a very nice logo carrying case.
 
The second line is our Polarized Sunglass line that has something for everyone including a nice line of glasses for the ladies and cool camo frames for the outdoorsman. 
 
The third line is our Collegiate Sunglass line and these glasses are in the same category as high tech eyewear from Oakley and others at a fraction of the cost. These lenses can also be fitted for prescriptions and also come with their own carrying case.
 
The great thing about this program is that the profit that each club has the potential to make is unusually high for a fundraiser! Clubs can earn from $5.00 to $13.00 per pair in profit on each pair of glasses sold. And let’s face it everyone wears sunglasses or protective eyewear at some point in time so it’s a product that everyone can use.
 
We have started holding divisional conference calls with our state youth directors to go over the specific details so please check with your state YD or President about getting involved in this program or contact me at mark@bassfederation.com.
 
We can control our own destiny with the success of this program and all it takes is a little effort on the part of all of us to make it successful!
 
Until next time, don’t forget to take a kid fishing today!       Mark Gintert

2009 Southern Division Day 1

As day one of the 2009 TBF Southern Division Championship began in Lexington, South Carolina, Lake Murray was scorching hot. For many of the anglers, however, we would be talking about the sun and not the fishing. The top twelve anglers from each state in the Southern Division battled the heat in hopes of bringing in big bass. Some succeeded in that, managing to bring in enough weight to grab hold of the top spots in their respective states.

As always one angler will some how rise above the pack. Taking the number one spot today, is Norman Mullinax from Wilmington, NC who had a limit of bass weighing 15lb 8oz. Also, Norman caught today’s big bass, which weighed 6lbs, using a frog lure. “It was pretty slow today,” Norman said. “We got on them early, and then it got tough real quick. I plan on doing about the same thing tomorrow, using the same spots. But, if they’re not there I’m going to have some problems.” Less than a pound behind him, fighting for tournament lead, is Adam Williamson from Ridgeway, SC who had a total weight of 14lb 3oz, Adam anchored the South Carolina Team to its day 1 overall lead he also plans on trying the same thing tomorrow. “I’ve got a milk run, there were plenty of fish there today, so as long as they don’t leave, you should see some great fish from me this week,” Adam said. He also had great things to say about his partner. “I had a great partner today in Jesse Ivy from Georgia. We had a blast, and lots of laughs.” Landing in third place, is Jay Keith from Camden, SC with a limit of bass weighing 13lb 11oz. Right on his tail is Herman Vining, the President of the South Carolina TBF Federation, our host state for this event. Unlike the others, Herman plans to run more spots tomorrow. “I caught my big bite this morning, but when the sun came out it got tougher,” Herman said. As you can see from the standings there are several South Carolina angers near the top. With the weigh in half over it actually was looking pretty bleak for the host state. However, before the day was finished the home state anglers proved we are on their turf.

The South Carolina state team brought in a total of 49 bass, which weighed 97lb 4oz. their late surge gave them a margin of nearly ten pounds over the second place Alabama Bass Federation, who also caught 49 bass, which weighed 87lb 5oz. The Georgia Bass Federation sits in third with a total weight of 78lb 8oz. Close behind them in fourth is the Tennessee Bass Federation with a total weight of 75lb 1oz.